Sometimes it is not the actual data and information that make or break your presentation, but the actual presentation itself. The default templates that come packed with your Microsoft Powerpoint software are not necessarily helpful, they are actually detrimental in some cases. They are meant for bland, bullet point presentations that are only helpful if you do the talking without presenting images, graphs, or any other visual information.
You can always opt to signing on MS Office trainings and seminars. Some government agencies offer these services. There are also private entities that specialize in honing office productivity suite skills. Or, you can always ask a friend or a relative that knows the ins and outs of MS Office. If all hopes are lost, there is the Internet.
Still, you can always start somewhere and that should be creating your own template for your presentation needs in the future. First, you should be able to have tools like Photoshop. Learning Photoshop is a whole new world, and it is worth noting that Photoshop is harder to learn than PowerPoint.
So, it’s kind of confusing if you don’t know how to make PowerPoint templates, and at the same time, you are a Photoshop expert. Nevertheless, just use any of the image editing software you have. And if you don’t have Photoshop, there few alternatives like GIMP and Paint.net. Here are some the tips.
White Space
Do not cramp your templates with so many background images. Also, put in white space as much as possible for the text, image, and other valuable information you might share. Emphasis on white, unless you’d want to blind the audience with white text on black background, invests in white real state. Content first, design later.
Create Variants of Your Template
Regardless of what your purposes for your presentation are, be it business, education, or personal, try making variants of your templates so that it won’t be the same thing all over again. Try
Make a few variations of the template for a little bit of surprise every now and then. Always remember, familiarity breeds contempt.
Divide the House
In making the templates, you must use different kinds of “pages” for every part of the presentation. The title screen should be different from your main information screen and conclusion screen. There should be a progress marker on your presentation, like how colors scheme change in accordance to the ROYGBV, just to make the audience know if your presentation is at the beginning or about to end.
Linking
If you are presenting a complex presentation with additional information, link them up. You can make a hyperlink between presentations. If the information is not that crucial, but still necessary, you can create a separate presentation not included in the normal flow of your template. Create an entirely separate template for moments like this. Make it a lighter template, less flashy, and void of additional distracting elements like animation and striking images.
